International Property Investment

Shut Down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Mark Knowles — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:37:35 +0000

“Shut Down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,” says James Boswell, Award-Winning Public Risk Manager and Author of Crush Depth Alert

In the early 1990’s James Boswell managed risk for Ginnie Mae’s $500 billion portfolio of mortgage-backed securities during the Savings & Loan crisis. A hands-on manager, Boswell used his unique analytical skills to help rescue the U.S. mortgage banking system and to save taxpayers billions of dollars during those years, for which he received a Vice-Presidential Hammer Award.

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Evaluating Rental Properties

Mark Knowles — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:30:44 +0000

Many people have made their fortune by purchasing rental properties. They hold it over a matter of years while they rent it out to tenants. During that time, the property increases in value and can eventually be sold for a handsome profit.

LAtional Association of Landlords Members Plan to Buy More Real Estate Withion Two Years

Mark Knowles — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:40:50 +0000

Almost one-third (31%) of independent landlords plan to buy additional rental property by the end of 2012, according to a survey released today by The National Association of Independent Landlords.

The top reason, cited by 68% of those planning a purchase, is that current prices make rental real estate a good investment. Other reasons include pricing low enough to allow them buy a retirement home (8%) or a vacation home (8%) that can be rented out to earn additional income until needed.

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Tourism Soars By 30% On Lanzarote

Nick — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:57:36 +0000

Despite speculation that this summer could prove tough for overseas holiday destinations all early indicators suggest that Lanzarote in the Canary Islands will be bucking this trend. As foreign tourist arrivals soared by nearly 30% in July, versus July 2009 figures. With both the British and German markets returning highly encouraging figures.

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NAHB index slumps in August to 17-month low

Mark Knowles — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:24:37 +0000

The National Association of Home Builders just released its latest numbers on the housing market. The overall index slumped to 13 from 14, compared with expectations for a slight increase. That's the worst level going all the way back to March 2009.

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Commercial Real Estate: Why a Rising Tide Won’t Lift All Boats

Mark Knowles — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 19:15:07 +0000

Even as the economy struggles to regain its footing in the post-recessionary environment, the state of the commercial real estate industry remains questionable. Many experts estimate that a meaningful recovery isn’t likely to happen in the sector until 2011 at the earliest. Though the recession may have officially ended in the summer of 2009, improvement in the real estate market typically lags the general economy by 12 to 18 months.

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The Future of Housing Finance in the U.S.A.

Mark Knowles — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:49:08 +0000

Well - seeing as the American Government Inc now seems to - directly or indirectly - hold all the mortgages on all the residential property in the U.S, a new panel and conference has been instigated to discuss the future of housing finance.

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HUD CHARGES CHICAGO REAL ESTATE GROUP AND PROPERTY OWNERS WITH HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

Mark Knowles — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:01:32 +0000

Well the laughs continue in the US real estate market - one of the major instigators of the financial crisis - the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is charging a bunch of local realtors and property owners with "housing discrimination" in Chicago. Apparently some one refused to sell (as if) a house to a black couple. Not seeing it myself as the home was on the market for at least two years and you have to think they were getting pretty desperate considering the amount of investment property for sale in Chicago. Still - you never know in the US real estate market - In any case - this is the official HUD press release.

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Pending home sales in the U.S. hit a new low

Mark Knowles — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:16:07 +0000

For this considering investing in real estate in the US, the figures seem "interesting," at the moment and another drop in pending home sales does not point to bottom being reached any time soon. According to Mike Larson, real estate and interest rate analyst at Weiss Research:

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STATEMENT BY HUD SECRETARY SHAUN DONOVAN ON HOUSE COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE

Mark Knowles — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:17:43 +0000

A recent announcement by the HUD secretary has just thrown another spanner in the mix as far as investing in US real estate goes. Already, far too much interference by the US Government Inc has skewed and in many cases destroyed the independent nature of the real estate market. Once one takes into consideration the fact that US banks own 22 million residential properties, and HUD foreclosures are mostly sat rotting, the introduction of $65 million seems like a drop in the bucket, and we suspect that most of this will vanish into a few select pockets in any case. Regardless, this is the announcement:

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